Architecture Information & Inspiration

Fabric fabrication

22 May 2017

Brought back to refurbish Olivo’s, a central London Italian restaurant he designed 25 years ago, architect Perluigi Piu looked to Sardinia’s ancient weaving techniques and the island’s fascination with the lapwing – a bird seen as a symbol of fertility and prosperity – as inspiration. Produced with stone workers Lithea, the primary feature of the main dining space is its ‘tapestry’ wall of stone bas reliefs, the small baubles of stone (pibiònes) emulating the sequences of small loops traditionally executed with the weft thread. The effect is accentuated by high level lighting that throws the pattern into relief. The appropriation of fabric techniques translated into stone make for a curiously compelling result.